Agra

Agra – Home of Taj Mahal

Agra is a city on the banks of river Yamuna in the northern state Uttar Pradesh, India. It is 220 kms from Delhi. This world famous city came into limelight when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at First battle of Panipat in 1526 and founded the Mughal Empire in India, choosing Agra as his capital. The beginning of Mughal Empire brings good luck to this city. You can see here some of the world’s most beautiful, historical and Mughal period architecture. In the year 1632 fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan Decided to construct a Monument of Love which is today known as one of the seven wonders of the world Taj Mahal, Since than the glory of this city is never faded. Today this city is more known as the city of Taj Mahal than Agra.

Places to visit in Agra

Taj Mahal

From the very first thought of travelling in India. This monument of Love makes its place in your itinerary as must visit places after all this is world’s third most iconic landmark and it is considered sin if you come to India and not visit Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal memorial to Love, is the tomb of Mumtaj Mahal, the wife of 5th Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, World’s richest man of his time. There are many architectural buildings in the world but what makes this building different than other is the love story behind this monument of Love.

Every year more than 03 million people come to see humanity loveliest building with their own eyes.

The construction started in 1632 and an army of 10,000 Elephants began dragging the construction material to Agra. More than 20,000 workers and the best artisans were gathered to build the biggest building project of the age.

It took 22 year to build this marvel on marble.

Local guide here say when you leave, you take the Taj with you in your heart.

Sikandra

Sikandra is located 04 kms away from Agra. Sikandra is the last resting place of the famous emperor of Mughal Dynasty Akbar the great. He ascended the throne at age of 13 and ruled almost all over Indian subcontinent. 411 years ago, Akbar the great himself chose this location and started the construction of his own final resting place in 1605 AD but unfortunately he could not complete this place before his death, his successor Jahangir completed the construction. This tomb shows the simplicity and secularism of the Great Akbar. You can see a beautiful amalgamation of Hindu, Christian, Bhudhist and Muslim architecture in this tomb.

Tomb of Itmad-Ud –Dulah (Baby Taj)

It is one of the lesser visited monument in Agra ,not much published and advertised, but it is absolutely worth to visit this Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Dulah also referred as Baby Taj. Itmad-Ud-Dulah is a tomb for Mirza Ghiyas Beg built by his daughter queen Nur Jahan in the year 1622-1628. Although small in size when compared to the Taj Mahal, but this monument is known as the precursor to the Taj Mahal. If you visit this tomb after the Taj mahal you will come to know from where the design of Taj Mahal came from. This is the first marble made monument of India.

Agra fort

It is one of the three strategic forts build by Mughal emperors. It enjoyed great prestige and significance when Agra served as their capital. The MUghal treasury was always kept in this massive giant fort. ll

The center of imperial Mughal power and one of India’s mightiest strongholds. The families of ruling Mughals lived inside Agra fort in its palaces